Are You Familiar With The Benefits Of Occupational Therapy?
Occupational therapy is one of the most effective conservative treatments for pain and regaining daily function. As such, the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) expresses the importance of occupational therapy best:
“Occupational therapy is the only profession that helps people across the lifespan to do the things they want and need to do through the therapeutic use of daily activities (occupations). Occupational therapy practitioners enable people of all ages to live life to its fullest by helping them promote health, and prevent—or live better with—injury, illness, or disability.”
If you or your child has a condition or an injury that causes movement restrictions, frustration, and limitations, occupational therapy may be the solution you’re looking for.
Your treatment is not complete until you feel that your overall quality of life has improved significantly. Rest assured that we share the same goals, and we will go to any length to ensure that you achieve them.
Call Therapy West Physical Therapy & Sports Medicine in Richfield, UT today to find out how our occupational therapists can help you live a better life.
What do occupational therapists do?
Occupational therapists are extremely helpful and knowledgeable professionals who specialize in assisting people in maintaining their daily routines, finding relief from chronic pain, and learning how to complete tasks with ease and comfort.
For a young patient, occupational therapy may include using a special tool to make cupcakes at home. An occupational therapist will create a utensil adaptation if one is required. Because of this distinct approach, occupational therapy has become an essential component of health care.
The occupational therapists at Therapy West Physical Therapy & Sports Medicine can treat and assist with a variety of conditions and circumstances.
Stroke recovery
If you or a loved one has had a stroke, occupational therapy can be beneficial. Any stroke rehabilitation plan’s long-term goal is to improve physical function. A patient may need to relearn basic skills like walking, dressing, writing, speaking, or eating.
Our advanced methods and modalities at Therapy West Physical Therapy & Sports Medicine are designed to help you relearn, recover, and reclaim your life. ChoosePT describes some of the most common treatment techniques we use as being particularly effective in stroke rehabilitation:
- Positioning. Positioning is used to help with transfers, such as sitting to standing or sitting to lying down. It works to reduce muscle pain, spasms, slowness, and stiffness, by helping the patient relearn proper positioning of their body.
- Motor imagery and mental practice. This helps the patient regain function in their arms, hands, feet, and legs by “rehearsing” the action out loud before performing it. This helps rebuild the responses between the brain and the body.
Hand and wrist injuries
Have you suffered a wrist or hand injury? An occupational therapist can assist you in strengthening your muscles as you recover from your injury in order to accommodate your lifestyle and physical activity. This will make it much easier for you to complete frequent daily chores as well as strenuous, repetitive motions!
Your OT can also provide manual pain relief techniques such as targeted massage, pressure, and stretching of the affected area(s) to keep muscles loose and inflammation at bay.
How are physical and occupational therapy different?
It is critical to understand the distinction between physical and occupational therapy because these fields of practice provide different benefits to patients.
Physical therapy encompasses a wide range of natural and conservative treatments aimed at alleviating pain and promoting healing. You may require physical therapy to help you recover from an injury or from the symptoms of chronic pain.
While occupational therapy is a type of conservative treatment, it focuses on rehabilitation and the “relearning” of daily activities. The goal of occupational therapy is to make daily life easier for patients by having them participate in treatments and exercises. Occupational therapists (OTs) are experts at helping patients find new ways to complete tasks and achieve goals in their daily lives.
Occupational therapy at Therapy West Physical Therapy & Sports Medicine is a non-invasive, safe, and effective treatment option for pain caused by a variety of musculoskeletal conditions, sports injuries, and workplace injuries, among others. Patients typically see an occupational therapist to regain daily function, manage chronic pain symptoms, and avoid future injury.
Regular appointments with an occupational therapist are ideal for people of all ages who need guidance or assistance with a variety of conditions!
Ready to improve your functionality? Contact our clinic today!
Our occupational therapy plans at Therapy West Physical Therapy & Sports Medicine in Richfield, UT include an individual evaluation to determine your goals and customized intervention activities to improve your or your child’s daily tasks and activities.
Make an appointment with an occupational therapist today by contacting us. We can assist you in starting your path to recovery and optimal function!
